The Dolphins welcomed their neighbours from Dunmow on a glorious day in early May. What wasn't glorious was the sight presented by skipper Chris Walker when he signalled they would be bowling 1st in the 22 degree (Felt like 40 degree) heat.
Theo Sherry and Johnny Whiteoak took the new ball and got to work but couldn't prevent Dunmow getting off to a solid start as Damien Westwood looked to attack and use every part of his bat. However Sherry was not having any of it and had him out caught behind after yet another loose drive.
Sherry was settling in to a really good rhythm and drew the batsman Cam Gibson into what can only be described as a bad leave and was adjudged LBW with no shot offered.
It was now Whiteoak's turn to join the party having Will Pascoe caught behind to leave The Dolphins well and truly on top.
It was at this point Mel Hussain, who had been unusually passive in making 12 from 25 balls decided to change his bats between overs. This bat remained unused as Whiteoak upped the pace and made mess of the stumps the very next ball. He didn't stop there and 3 balls later produced another glorious delivery that bowled Jamie Rosewell for 4.
Having bowled his ECB quota of overs for the day, Sherry had to have a rest, which brought Louis Cant into the attack. Stepping up from the 2s, Cant took a wicket in his 1st over with Dan Garner talking a sharp catch at 1st slip. Dunmow were all scrambling for their pads at 67/6 but a recovery was to be led by George Cumming and Dave Mundell who dug in, rode their luck at times but showed how to bat in this situation. They propelled Dunmow from 67/6 to 203/6 before Mundell fell for 65 to the bowling of Chris Hinks, who then also expertly run out George Cumming at the non-strikers end when the ball was struck back to him. Dunmow scrambled to 228 all out with a wicket for Grace Poole and another for Hinks after a superb one handed stumping from Matt Renvoize.

The talk at Tea was all about how good Sarah Sherry-Martin's rocky road was but also the lack of sausage plait on display after Chris Hinks failed to fulfill his match assigned duties.
Renvoize and Hinks strode out to the crease quietly confident as the pitch had played well and Hinks, in true Hinks fashion, decided he'd seen enough of the slow/medium pace of Matt Gibson and slapped him through cover in his 1st over for a glorious 4.
Mel Hussain opened up from the other end and Renvoize was watchful and patient allowing Hinksy to take on the bowling of Gibson in the next over. Hinksy again attacked and planted another ball through cover, but decided 4 wasn't enough and that the next ball absolutely must go for 12. The Dunmow fielders called it and said "He's chipping the next one up".... Hinks duly obliged and was caught at cover.

Dan Garner came to the crease and the emphasis was on building a partnership which started well with some nice shots. What happened next can only be described as outstanding. Gibson bowled a juicy half volley, Garner absolutely nailed it, it was hit so hard that Renvoize instantly looked to the boundary, however in what can only be described as an act of pure self defence and self preservation Matt Gibson had somehow got both hands in front of his face to take what was surely one of the best caught and bowled's ever witnessed at Braintree. Garner stood there in sheer amazement. An incredible catch.
Bryn Powell came to the crease and, along with Renvoize, started to chip away at Dunmow's 228. Playing some confident drives some that got through and some that found fielders. What was unusual for Powell was the one shot he was slightly tentative with managed to find the edge and be well taken at slip giving Matt Gibson and his slow/medium bowling his 3rd wicket.
Inform skipper Chris Walker joined Renvoize in the middle who was going along nicely playing relatively risky free shots and continuing to be patient. This brought a change of bowling and a change of gloves from the wicket keeper. All of a sudden the ball started to swing round corners and Lewis Hayes had Chris Walker, Grace Poole, Joe Osbourne and Johnny Whiteoak all back in the hutch. With only Johnny making double figures after a huge 6 off Gibson.
With the ball swinging and batsman fast disappearing Renvoize and Major Singh decided it was time to push the score on. Major said between overs to Renvoize "Time for that ball to stop swinging" and dispatched it into the graveyard off Lewis Hayes. A remarkable shot considering the ball was absolutely hooping. Unfortunately for Major he was undone by a ball that should also have disappeared again being too tentative and was caught at point off the bowling of Cumming.
Renvoize was still there, still intent on winning the game. Dunmow brought Mel Hussain back in to the attack as Renvoize was getting on top of Hayes now that the swinging ball had been lost. After maneuvering the field with some good shots, Renvoize was adjudged LBW to a leg side, bouncer that almost hit him in the head. With Renvoize gone the chances of a victory were slim. Louis Cant who had been talking all day about when it would rain, batted for rain and secured a 17 ball duck before he was also adjudged LBW to another Mel Hussain bouncer.
Theo Sherry notched up another not out and the dolphins lost by 81 runs. The biggest difference between the sides on the day was that Dunmow took every chance they had and the Dolphins for the 2nd week in a row dropped some crucial catches.
The Dolphins need to adapt their batting to the game situation rather than trying to bazball their way out of trouble, just as the Dunmow batters did.

We go again at Felixstowe next week.